For everything from drying the socks using body heat to tackling spots made by mildew, we’ll show you how to protect the clothing that protects you from the elements
Being in the elements calls for protection from the elements, and as any hiker knows that an outdoor excursion can often result in sweaty or dust. It can also be wet. Although this is part of the adventure, if dirt dampness, and sweat persist, it can shorten the life of outdoor equipment, turning an enjoyable pastime into a pricey one.
“Consistent laundering of gear really helps prolong the life of a product,” says Corey Simpson of Patagonia, because high-tech fabrics “all perform better when they’re not clogged or covered with dirt and oils“.
It is a good idea to wash your hands during hikes.
If you have to clean your gear in the middle of a camping excursion, Simpson says to “find a creek, stream or river to rinse the garments“. Although washing is acceptable, making use of soap within a stream isn’t. If your campground does not have laundry facilities that are specifically for laundry, clothes should be hand washed in a tub or bucket with an organic soap bar and the resulting grey water is to be poured out far enough away from the running water.
Lastly, hang the clothes and dry them in sunlight or the breeze.
What to do when it rains
Maintaining the equipment dry is among the most essential elements of maintaining it, but this isn’t always easy if you find yourself caught in the rain while halfway to the top of a mountain on a multi-day hike.
The first step should be to clean off all water that has accumulated Then, find a dry area to hang it. The director of product for Kathmandu, Robert Fry, recommends inside “your tent’s vestibule” as an ideal place to dry, “so there’s no chance it’ll drip and wet your dry gear, like your sleeping bag“.
Use your body heating
If your down jacket has been saturated, Simpson suggests you “shake the jacket to get the moisture off … and get the down to loft up again“. You may also utilize your body heat to remove the moisture from the clothes. Wear the jacket over any layers of wicking after which you rub your hands along the jacket for friction and heat into the jacket from the outside. Then, you can put the shells on over your insulated jackets and keep moving, making sure that your body heat flows into the jacket from inside as well.
This is also a great way to dry your socks. If your shoes and socks are wet, Simpson suggests wringing out any moisture that remains from your socks and hanging them up to dry. However, if they’re still damp when you next take off, “put them in the inside pocket of a jacket to get your body heat to dry them out“.
Post-hike cleanup
If you are returning home after an excursion, begin by shaking or rinsing off any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on your equipment, and afterward, wash each item according to the cleaning instructions. Fry states that waterproof items, as well as breathable fabrics, must be cleaned “using a cleaning agent made specifically for [them] on a cold, gentle cycle“.
Inspect and make repairs
If your gear is getting older and beginning to show signs of wear, Fry says it’s important to notice this, because it can affect “your overall experience and safety when spending time ‘out there.”
However, in some cases, the damage is not as severe which won’t hinder your gear’s performance. Simpson states, “If your favorite hiking shirt has a few holes in it, no worries, you can continue to use it and earn some more rips and tears.”
Fry suggests checking equipment every time you go on a trip, and if you spot any serious issues – like broken zips, be sure to get it taken to an expert repair shop. This way, you won’t have time to forget about this issue until the next trip.